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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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June 2, 1995 · Bell 206B-III · N85RP

Meeker, CO

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 2, 1995
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Meeker, CO
Aircraft
Bell 206B-III
Tail Number
N85RP
Operator
Department of the Interior
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW95TA228

DURING TAKEOFF THE CANOPY FOGGED OVER AND THE PILOT MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING BY LOOKING OUT THE SIDE WINDOW. THE LEFT SKID SETTLED IN THE SNOW AND THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED LEFT APPROXIMATELY 30 DEGREES. A MAIN ROTOR BLADE SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM, THE MAIN ROTOR SHAFT FRACTURED, AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE PENETRATED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CABIN.

NTSB Probable Cause

FAILURE BY THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING LANDING. A FACTOR WAS SOFT TERRAIN.

Full Narrative

On June 2, 1995, at 1215 mountain daylight time, a Bell 206B-III helicopter, N85RP, sustained substantial damage during a precautionary landing near Meeker, Colorado. The airline transport rated pilot and passenger were not injured. The helicopter was being operated as a public use flight by the Department of the Interior under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. According to the pilot, he landed the helicopter on the snow covered ground to pick up passengers who had been measuring snow pack at 11,200 feet above mean sea level. One passenger boarded the helicopter. (Due to aircraft performance at altitude one passenger per load was maximum.) Following the takeoff, the canopy fogged and the pilot made a precautionary landing. During the landing, the pilot selected his landing point by looking out the side window. The pilot said that as he lowered the collective after landing, the helicopter broke through the snow and rolled approximately 30 degrees left. The main rotor severed the tail boom and the main rotor shaft fractured which was followed by a main rotor blade penetrating the cabin.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:15 MDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 206B-III
Tail NumberN85RP
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorDepartment of the Interior
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250-C20B · Turboshaft · 420
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 49 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind240° @ 5 kt
Visibility25 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 300 ft
Temperature / Dew Point36 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data